Big Lottery Fund to help regeneration of historic park

Ellington Park, a 126-year-old park in Kent, England is set for regeneration thanks to a generous award worth £1.64 million from the Big Lottery Fund.

The National Lottery’s Big Lottery Fund in the UK has awarded the huge grant to Ellington Park in Kent. It will enable a planned regeneration of the park which will include a new café, toilets and expert landscaping. The 126-year-old park is spread across 13 acres and was designed in Victorian times by Joseph Cheal and Son. They are also known for working on other period gardens including Hever Castle and Kirkstall Abbey.

A long time coming

Thanet Council and the Friends of Ellington Park charity have been working together for several months in order to secure the funding. They estimate it will be a £1.8 million project, and the Big Lottery Fund has provided the lion’s share of that requirement. They previously received an award in January 2017 worth £144,000, which allowed them to develop their plans with the local community and a professional design team.

“After so many years of hard work and fantastic support from the people of Ramsgate, we are thrilled to know Ellington Park’s future is secured,” said Bev Perkins, chairperson of the Friends of Ellington Park charity.

Lottery ticket purchases help local communities

As well as new facilities in the park, the redevelopment will also include a new building in the locale of the original bandstand. It will be used as an education space during the day and community events space in the evenings. All profits from the new café will be re-invested into community activities and events that take place in the park, as well as a community gardener.

A spokesperson for the National Lottery’s Big Lottery Fund said: “Parks are essential to the health of the nation; this National Lottery investment will empower local people to maximise the potential of Ellington Park.” The project is expected to begin in early 2019 and take around two years to complete.

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